User-Centered Design in Custom EHR Software: A Guide

There is a unique relationship between the user interface and the software systems that we use to carry out our day-to-day activities. This is especially the case when it comes to healthcare software systems that we encounter every now and then.

The instant memory that comes to mind when we are reminded of a healthcare software is that of a boring tabular format screen with a lot of texts and the patient picture something in some corner.

Well, you can now guess why healthcare providers often say they have long and boring days at work. Let me show you a stat to give you an idea about what I am talking about here. Only 1 in 26 users will complain when they have an unsatisfactory experience. And 91% of the unsatisfied users simply leave without even trying to make the service provider aware of their mistakes.

Though the scenario is quite different in the healthcare industry, the problem can lead to problems such as degrading quality of care, unnecessary time spent on the healthcare system, etc. This can also be stated as one of the contributing reasons why there is a huge surge in healthcare providers choosing custom healthcare software development approaches, especially for their EHR software systems.

Coming to those who are looking for custom EHR development, having a good design with a user centric approach can solve a lot of problems for you like productivity, better patient care practices, and majorly increased adherence.

In this blog, let’s explore some of the many intricacies that come under the umbrella of user-centric design for EHR software systems.

Understanding UI/UX in the Context of EHR Software

You might say user-centered design can do wonders for your custom EHR software, but to ensure you have a simple yet effective user interface, you need to understand the core components of UI/UX for EHR software. So, without further ado, let’s get started:

In simple terms, UI/UX stands for User Interface and User Experience respectively. While UI focuses on the interface that the user interacts with, user experience deals with the over experience the user gets while interacting with software.

Now, in context with the EHR development, one of the major benefits of a user-centered EHR is that it not only provides a seamless navigation through the clinical and administrative process, but also helps in improving patient engagement. For instance, a good interface will allow healthcare providers to provide care in an effective and efficient manner with smooth navigation through the different aspects of care services. On the other hand, a good user experience will not cause frustrations, leaving a delightful experience for care providers.

Remember, the custom EHR software you’re developing will be used mainly by your staff and physicians. That is why clinician satisfaction with EHR should be your priority. In this, prioritize the needs of healthcare professionals and patients. Along with that, user research for custom EHR software development must not be ignored. Consider workflows, accessibility, and ease of use of the software.

Last but not least, consider the complexity of your process and try to make it simpler for you to use. On top of that, consider various aspects which will help you in addressing the diverse user groups.

The Impact of Good UI/UX on Healthcare Providers’ Productivity

A major problem that healthcare providers have with using a custom EHR software is accessibility, which takes up most of their time off of the patient care activities. This is where user-centered design comes into the picture, a good design makes it easier for the providers to find the right information.

Along with that, a well-designed EHR system will save providers time by streamlining documentation process, data entry and enable smooth navigation to the following processes of care delivery.

This allows providers to focus on care delivery activities, and not on the administrative part. Furthermore, a user-friendly interface reduces the likelihood of mistakes which is another major problem in care delivery. With minimizing the data entry processes, it not only improves care quality but also enhances the workflow with customizable dashboards, shortcuts, etc.

The right decisions made with UX design support enable quick access to relevant information that can be extremely useful for healthcare professionals when providing care and making decisions.

Enhancing Patient Experience Through Intuitive EHR Interfaces

If you are still reading this, then do you remember the boring interfaces we talked about earlier? Well, to be honest, these interfaces are something that leads to poor patient experience. Provider as well as patient experience are something that leads to enhanced patient engagement. Here are some things about intuitive EHR interfaces that you must consider in your healthcare software development and not just electronic health records.

1. Patient Portal Integration: The patient portal is something from where your patients will first contact you for your digital healthcare services. A well-designed UI in a patient portal will allow patients to access their health information easily and without much hassle. This not only increases adherence but also helps in building patient loyalty.

2. User-friendly Communication: Communication makes up a major portion of user experience. By enabling seamless communication between healthcare providers and patients through integrated messaging features can bridge communication gaps and other aspects of patient-provider relationships.

You see an elevated user experience can encourage patients to actively engage with their health data, proactive book appointments and track their progress. All these activities signify proactive patient engagement in their care activities.

Some of the things that you need to keep in mind while designing an EHR for patient engagement are simple, intuitive, and interactive interfaces. Moreover, clear navigation signs with readable fonts and interactive features should be used to enhance their satisfaction levels.

Reducing Training Time & Increasing Adoption Rates

Most of your staff members, physicians and clinicians are already familiar with using some sort of healthcare software. In those cases, an intuitive user experience with a straight user interface can minimize the learning curve for your users. Along with that, it will contribute to faster adoption of the system with little to no resistance.

Having said that, here are some things during user research for custom EHR software development that you must consider to reduce training time and increase adoption rate.

1. Customization Options for Diverse Users: The customizable EHR having the ability to personalize interfaces based on user roles such as having a different interface for doctors, nurses, administrators, can make the software more usable. Along with that, you will be able to address the diverse needs of diverse staff members easily and effectively.

2. User Testing and Feedback Loops: Your staff members are the people who will be using the software the most. And the best way to address their needs and requirements is by conducting user testing and getting their feedback. Then developing an iterative design based on their feedback can ensure the system is continually optimized for end-users and is more user-friendly.

Compliance, Security & Accessibility Consideration in UI/UX Design

Other than the EHR implementation, there are some other considerations that you should also consider when designing your UI/UX.

1. Regulatory Compliance: You must be aware of the healthcare technology regulatory bodies or acts like HIPAA, GDPR, HITECH Act, etc. Adhering to the system’s unique UI/UX meets these regulations, which will not only keep your sensitive data secure but also allow you to easily navigate through the legal landscape.

2. Accessibility Features: Accessibility considerations for EHR should also not be ignored. Design your custom EHR software for everyone on the face of the earth. Do your user research for EHR development and ensure that your software supports accessibility tools and features for the users with disabilities. This will open a new door for the patient population who find it difficult to access healthcare services. High contrast modes and screen reader compatibility are some of the accessibility considerations for EHR for patients with disability.

3. Security-first UX: Your software will be used by almost all of your healthcare staff, and since it will be dealing with sensitive information of patients, its accessibility to everyone can lead to serious consequences. That is why you need to design subtly and incorporate security features like multi-factor authentication without disrupting the user experience.

While considering these factors of healthcare software development, try to find a balance between user-friendliness and compliance with security and privacy regulations.

Continuous Improvement & Iterative Design in EHR Systems

You must have observed that once in a while, significant design changes are brought in by many applications and software, right? You see, with time, using the same design loses its credibility and usability. That is why, by understanding how your users and patients are interacting with your user-centered design, you must improve the UI/UX of your EHR software. Here are a few considerations in this that you must consider:

1. Iterative UX Design: Try to understand the user experience with your EHR software by tracking their engagement and regularly updating the design. Instill feedback mechanisms and refine the system based on that feedback to meet the evolving needs and requirements of your custom EHR software.

2. Embrace Technological Innovations: New-age technologies like AI, voice recognition, and predictive analytics can enhance the UI/UX in ways that we cannot even imagine. However, to implement an idea with AI, ML, etc., it needs to be well thought out with the aim of improving patient engagement and accessibility consideration for EHR.

3. A/B Testing & Performance Analytics: It is very natural that you will have more than two or three designs ready before finalizing one, right? In your case, rather than making all the decisions by yourself, conduct the tried and tested A/B testing on your users with each design and track which design gives you the desired results.

Frequently Asked Questions